Cyndi Lauper and Mr. T Involved in Wrestling Scuffle

May 1, 1985

NEW YORK (AP) _ Rock star Cyndi Lauper slapped bad-guy Rowdy Roddy Piper during a news conference Wednesday, and in the ensuing melee four wrestlers, including Mr. T, tumbled to the floor in an apparently impromptu scuffle.

Miss Lauper and the wrestlers were on stage to promote ″Saturday Night’s Main Event,″ a 90-minute special schedule to be broadcast by NBC on May 11.

Dick Ebersol, executive producer of NBC’s ″Saturday Night Live″ who is serving in the same capacity for the rock-wrestling special, said the scuffle, which involved a good deal of pushing and shoving, was not planned.

″It’s not the first time he’s gotten out of hand,″ Ebersol said of Piper.

NBC’s security men had to separate Mr. T and Hulk Hogan from their adversaries, Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton. Piper and Orton were whisked out a side door.

The scuffle was precipitated by insults directed by Piper at Miss Lauper’s mother.